Indian visa policy

E-Paper | May 04, 2026

RECENT changes in the Indian visit visa policy seem to toughen lives of visitors as compared to the past. The new requirement laid out by the Indian High Commission says that the visit visa invitation needs to be attested to by a grade I officer which creates a level of discomfort for the person attesting such invitation, mainly due to the potential risk it may bring to the attesting person if something wrong happens.

In the past it was a requirement that the family member in India needed to send documents like ration card and utility bills along with the visa invitation letter to facilitate visit visa application of a Pakistani relative.

It is requested to bring ease in the lives of divided families by introducing requirements that can be followed easily so that the families could reunite.

SYED ZAFAR AHMED Muzzaffargarh

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Guru

Apr 26, 2013 02:58pm

Let there me such fear in the people attesting the documents. For too long we have had these illegitimate visitors causing terror in India.

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milind

Apr 26, 2013 10:00am

Why you ask for relaxation in law and what Indian govt need based on past experiment and after 65 years did you recall all members some may be live and some of them pass away your govt create such hostile and your so called security analyst and non state actor all are blamed for that not Indian govt and you feel hard ship don't apply for visa no body want you there

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manish

Apr 26, 2013 04:28pm

Good decision by government. At least someone will have to take responsibility and have to be accountable if any foreigner do not go back before expiry of visa.

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Sandeep Singh

Apr 26, 2013 04:37pm

Why should INDIA issue visas to Pakistani? Why not Muslims relative in India permanently go to Pakistan and Hindus from Pakistan come to INDIA. Its a fair deal.

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YMMIR

Apr 26, 2013 08:59pm

PAKISTANI IMMIGRANTS FROM INDIA HAVE A PROBLEM/DO NOT KNOW WHERE THEY BELONG

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khatun

Apr 26, 2013 09:00pm

Pakistanis are not wanted in India. I feel sad.

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Ali

Apr 27, 2013 01:50am

When November comes, ask a Sikh if they are concerned about the Pakistani Visa policy; the answer might surprise you.

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hell

Apr 26, 2013 12:59pm

In 2008 when the visa rules were relaxed during India pakistan cricket series, many pakistanis (9000 approx) did not return back even after their visa expired and hence visa rules are made stringent.

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Jag

Apr 26, 2013 04:22am

why are people from Pakistan worried about Indian Visa ??? why not Indians worried about Pakistani Visa ? I don't get !

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Indian HIndu

Apr 26, 2013 03:32pm

I support this measure. In view increasing Jihadi threat from Pakistan and pakistani citizens every nation is imposing tougher measures. Pakistanis should just grin and bear as a fait accompli...that is what I can say at this point in time.

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A south Indian

Apr 27, 2013 06:40pm

Well, extrapolating this logic a bit further, it can be argued that North Indians from the upper castes should go back to their forefathers' home in the central asian steppes - If they disagree, they can have their DNA tested , which would doubtlessly prove they have more in common with Kazaks than brown skinned South Indians. Its a fair deal.

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